FORMAT: 36-hole stroke play
A chip-in eagle at the penultimate hole got Mark Stockdale’s second round back on track and ultimately secured him the Midland Union Closed Championship at Moseley.
The Northamptonshire junior had led at halfway thanks to a three under 67 but he was four over for his front nine after lunch and still thought his two at the 17th probably wasn’t going to be enough.
However he finished one shot clear of county teammate Charlie Salter (Brampton Heath) and Warwickshire’s Rob Bardsley (Moor Hall).
“Halfway round I thought I’d let it slip,” said the 17-year-old Overstone Park player, who is taking part in the British Boys at Royal Cinque Ports this week.
“I didn’t putt as well in the afternoon and at 17 I had a nice uphill chip. I had had a putt from a similar spot in the morning so got a decent read.”
Midlands Mid-Am glory for Moseley’s Richard Sadler
The plus three handicapper closed with a 74 to leave him one over par for the Midland Union Closed Championship and give him his first regional title.
In the morning his 67 meant he had a one-shot lead going into the final round. The Leicestershire’s Richard Wale and Spencer Worley (Bloxwich) both recorded 68s but struggled later in the day as the weather worsened.
The Northants Junior champion started his first round at the tenth but it caught fire in the closing stages as he registered four birdies on the trot, starting at his 14th (5th).
Having holed from eight feet for a three, he chipped in at the par three sixth (his 15th) and then at the par five, smashed his 2 iron to the front edge and got up and down for a four before pitching to 10 feet at the short par four eighth (his 17th) and sinking it to get to three under for his round.
Salter’s closing 69 was the best round after lunch. It included a run of three straight birdies, starting at the 16th.